Citing low completion rates and idle infrastructure projects, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian vowed to transfer the P3-billion allocation for the Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) Program from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Department of National Defense (DND).
During the budget hearing on the DND’s P295-billion 2026 budget on Tuesday, the Senate finance committee chair highlighted several unfinished DPWH projects, including two multipurpose buildings for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Pasay City, valued at P72 million and P51 million, both tagged as completed but still unfinished.
Two other PAF projects, valued at P60 million and P17 million, also lack complete funding.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro reported that of 944 approved TIKAS projects since 2019, only 648 have been completed, with several remaining unfinished or unusable.
‘For 2026, we will transfer the P3 billion to the DND. What’s important is to finish these structures and to ensure that our soldiers benefit from every peso of the funds,’ Gatchalian said.
‘The buildings are being put to waste, they are standing but are not being used. It would be better if the DND itself would implement the projects because they know what their needs are,’ he added.
Teodoro said there was no validation of whether or not they can use the structures.
‘That’s why the remedy is to meticulously check these projects. We will also report these to the committee. We already have the inventory that we’re willing to submit,’ he said.
Teodoro added that they will discuss with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon the possible filing of appropriate cases against the people behind the unfinished projects.
‘These structures were essential, but these were not part of the core infrastructure-based development program. these do not fall in line anymore with our strategic basing and operational security requirements.and henceforth these will not be pursued anymore, yet recovery must be done,’ he said. /mcm